《Date Me Instead》 Chapter 1 The boarding house wasn¡¯t the dream place she¡¯d lived for college but it was enough. She has a bed, a personal bathroom and the appliances in the shared kitchen were new. Plus, it was cheap. ¡°I thought I¡¯d bring something for us to eat on our first day,¡± a voice came inside the room. Soft, delicate and possibly quiet, Nora strayed her attention away from the bunk bed to the person closing the door. She eyes the box of donuts carried by her best friend, Lily, knowing that her favorites would greatly occupy the entire batch. The box was then placed on a desk residing next to the window and Nora just hops out of her way to get a treat. She hears a chuckle, along with a smile she sees from the corner of her eyes but nothing could distract from the leche-flan filled donut that sat comfortably in the middle. ¡°Aw, thanks, Lil!¡± Nora exclaims, grinning at the dessert. She takes a bite, a cartoonish ¡®munch¡¯ that surrounds the silence. Nora was sure Lily have been dropping a couple of sighs as she devours the donut without a thought, nothing but the hunger she knew rumbling in her tummy. She licks the crumbs off her fingers and was offered a box of wet wipes. ¡°You ate like you were starving,¡± Lily comments, watching Nora wiping off the remains of her donut. ¡°I couldn¡¯t eat properly these days,¡± Nora explains, sitting down on a chair. The donut did ease off the emptiness in her stomach but it was far from satisfactory. Enough would be a word she¡¯d describe the dessert. She looks around, noting the cobwebs on the ceiling with a grimace. The stained glass from the window were a struggle she tries to clean off with every cleaning product she had during clean-up. The rusted metal on the bed were a hazard she¡¯ll try to talk with the owner soon. But the problems were brushed off by the sense of freedom the room could offer. Her parents were miles away, her high school as well. Nora has start over rather than live off from the impression she has garnered in her teen years. ¡°I feel small,¡± Lily blurts out and Nora watches her friend lies down on the bed with her hands spread wide. ¡°I feel overwhelmingly small in a big and new world and I¡¯m not so sure if I can live in it.¡± If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Nora immediately shuffles to her friend¡¯s side, bent down to face her on the edge of the bed. She placed a hand on Lily¡¯s cheek, stroking her thumb under her eye. ¡°Hey,¡± she begins with a haste, worried. She understood the feeling, however, and the smile she tries to uplift the mood was hard to maintain. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m here,¡± she continues with a whisper, ¡°we can, like, face this big ass world together. You don¡¯t have to be scared.¡± Lily laid on her side, taking Nora¡¯s hand off her cheek and places it in between them. Her intertwined fingers with Nora¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯m not exactly scared or worried,¡± Lily reassures Nora, ¡°it¡¯s just that I never thought I could end up here.¡± ¡°Same, but now we¡¯re here ¨C and with me, in our home for four to five years,¡± Nora humors, ¡°I gotta warn you though, I snore and occasional fart in my sleep.¡± ¡°I can tolerate.¡± ¡°You do?¡± Nora just raised a brow, bemused by the strong conviction Lily displays with the fact. Lily shrugs and replies, ¡°If anything, I¡¯m used to it. My dad sometimes sleeps in the living room and I¡¯ve experienced worst.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not an old man,¡± Nora pouts. ¡°But you embody one,¡± Lily teases. ¡°Hey!¡± Lily simply snickers, rolling to the other side of the bed with her back facing Nora. Nora huffs, pouting even further by the giddy she hears from her best friend. She slips into the bunk bed, entering further as the space was surprisingly wide and looks down at the hands blocking her view of Lily¡¯s face. The laughter didn¡¯t stop. ¡°Hm, I assure you that my farts aren¡¯t that bad,¡± she says. Lily continues with her laugh. She breathes in deeply, sighing it all down through her mouth and shows off a smirk. Nora knew it was a taunt and, well, she hardly tries to think with her head as her hand finally grabs her friend on the wrist. She tugs it down and Lily wasn¡¯t fighting back with what little strength Nora used. Instead, Lily lies down on her face and Nora adjust, scooting away from the legs that pushes off her knees on the edge of the bed. Nonetheless, she had brought down Lily¡¯s hand and all that¡¯s left was the other who plants itself on the middle of her friend¡¯s face. ¡°Stubborn girl.¡± ¡°Nasty man.¡± The other hand was finally out of Nora¡¯s way and she stares. She just stares. The light-brown hair scattered, some lying down on the cheeks and forehead. The color of Lily¡¯s eyes wasn¡¯t any different and Nora notices the pupils dilating as it stares back. Pink tinted Lily¡¯s cheeks and the smile Nora glances to seems different; it never stretches wide nor does it fade away to form something else. It stays there, soft and small. Like Lily. Her friend¡¯s glasses have fallen down on the side and Nora picks it up, putting it back on Lily¡¯s face. And something changed. Chapter 2 Change is inevitable. It wasn¡¯t exactly hard getting used to the lenient units she has for the first semester but the rigid schedule in high school took time to get out of her head. Nora was simply stuck, mentally that is, awkwardly shuffling in and out of the classrooms and wander around the university to get a better idea of the school¡¯s layout. Overall, it¡¯s big. Spacious even. Completely out of her depth with how small her high school was in comparison but there were things that the past lingers with the present. Both schools were private sectarians and were completely run by priests. So, chapels and status and pictures of saints the school represents can be seen throughout the area. Nora sat down on a bench of the school¡¯s park. It was placed in the center of the university, surrounded by buildings of different departments. She sips her water, feeling the condensation on the palm of her hand. A giggle accompanies by loud whispers. All of it can be heard as two girls passes by, their hands intertwined and a blush can be seen painting the tip of one girl¡¯s ears. Intimate, Nora thinks, observing their lips brushing each other ¨C almost leading to a kiss that didn¡¯t occur. But neither complaint by the absence of it. What they have at the moment was enough, reassuring the other with a look filled with love. Nora stayed speechless, mouth gaping from the public display of affection. She chews her the tip of her water bottle and looks away as the couple continues walking, ignoring her presence entirely. It wasn¡¯t like she wants to be known either ¨C just want to have a conversation with romance and the likes. It was one of the main reasons she denies every planned in settling at a college near her hometown ¨C just for romance, with girls. Her heart skips a beat at the thought. ¡°Nora?¡± Someone calls her out and Nora stares at Lily sitting beside her. ¡°You, okay?¡± Nora composed herself, losing the slouch with a straighten back and throws her empty water bottle on the trash bin next to the bench. She clears her throat, nodding along to the answer. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°Just thinking,¡± she adds a response, uncertain on how to proceed with the question. ¡°About?¡± Lily questions. ¡°My love life¡­¡± Nora hesitates to expound the dilemma but it wasn¡¯t like the problem have been hidden away from Lily either. She already admitted about it to her best friend, multiple times. The grumbles of loneliness and yearning for a partner is a topic she had beaten to death. ¡°Oh,¡± Lily expresses and twirls a strand of hair with her finger. ¡°Have you found anyone you like?¡± Lily questions, almost to a whisper. Nora reclines on the backrest of the bench, melting away from what little heat of the summer remains in June. ¡°No,¡± Nora mutters. There was a sigh Nora hears on the right, Lily looks relieved by something and have finally untangled the ball of hair around her finger. She took out a brush from her bag and hands it to Lily, who uses it. ¡°You-you could like use a dating app,¡± Lily suggests in a stutter, brushing her hair down. The bangs were rightfully placed on the forehead and correctly angles her glasses on the bridge of her nose. ¡°Or hang out in bars or clubs.¡± ¡°You sure?¡± Nora replies back, uncertain. She has been clubs before, bars as well. With or without parental supervision but dating apps were still a subject Nora has left untouched. Mostly out of the embarrassment she¡¯ll get if ever matched with someone she knows. ¡°I could go with you,¡± Lily offers, less persistent Nora realize. ¡°My classmates wanted me to tag along at a bar somewhere and I only joined when they said I could bring someone.¡± Nora frowns. ¡°You don¡¯t have to go if you don¡¯t want to.¡± Lily simply shrugs at the problem, likely used to it or just resigned at her fate. Whichever the choice was, the end game is still the same and Nora feels protective of her about it. Frowning won¡¯t do much to solve it and laying a hand on Lily¡¯s shoulder won¡¯t do either. But seeing her best friend smiling at the touch was enough to satiate whatever unnecessary justice-seeking she plans. ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± Lily reassures her. ¡°You sure?¡± Nora questions. Her best friend replies with a nod. ¡°I always wanted to go to a bar,¡± Lily adds. Nora reassures, ¡°Well, not to brag, but I¡¯m somewhat of a bar connoisseur myself. Ask me anything and I¡¯ll give you better answers for a first timer like you.¡± Lily chuckles and Nora grins, puffing her chest to exaggerate her pride at the tiny fact. The conversation starts with another topic and Lily sighs after the joke fades into the background. She licks her lips and Nora was actually eager for a question. ¡°Miss Bar Addict,¡± Lily begins and Nora pouts. ¡°My question is about alcohol. What kind would recommend for someone whose only experienced are sparkling wine and alcohol-free champagne?¡± Chapter 3 Nora bought Lily her first alcohol; an apple-flavored beer. She got it for herself as well so Lily wouldn¡¯t feel left out as her classmate got harder beverages for the night. The bar was packed, as she predicted, but the chatters echoing in the area was overpowered by the live band playing in the tiny stage on front of them. She looks around, tapping her tap on the table to the beat of the song, and smiles as Lily was engaging a conversation with her group. Her best friend seems invested with the topic, eyes glisten with delight and Nora snorts whenever Lily grimaces when taking sips of her drink. Lily insists despite the wide variety of smoothies and milkshakes the menu showcased. She¡¯ll order water later, a pitcher maybe. ¡°Hey,¡± an unfamiliar voice calls out ¨C to her? Nora doesn¡¯t know and she ignores from the possibility of someone else. Besides, with how loud the band was, it could¡¯ve been a shout from the other side of the bar. Then, a finger taps on Nora¡¯s shoulder and she looks up to check who it was. Oh. ¡°Pretty,¡± Nora murmurs, eyes widen by the woman on front of her. Indeed, the woman is beautiful. Her long brown hair has red undertone to it; her pale skin was bare of any blemishes and her black eyes was seemingly intimidating as she looks down on Nora to face her. ¡°Hey,¡± the woman repeats, placing a hand on her hip. ¡°Hi!¡± Nora immediately exclaims, going as far to extend a hand as a greeting. ¡°I¡¯m Nora Mae Jimenez and I¡¯m a Computer Engineering major!¡± ¡°Cool.¡± Only a word left Nora to stutter another phrase but nothing slips out of her tongue. ¡°Anyways, there¡¯s a girl that¡¯s, like, been eyeing on you for a while now.¡± The woman points at a girl from a table behind them and squeals erupt from the attention. Nora glances pass the woman and onto another pretty girl looking at her. The pretty girl waves at Nora, while blushing and fidgeting with her fingers afterwards. Her friends ended up observing Nora as well. ¡°Yo, she likes you!¡± One of them shouts. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Wants your number and your babies too!¡± Then another and Nora humors them with a laugh, albeit hesitant. But was sure her face was as ripe as a tomato from the words she received. Nora, then, gulps. Unsure how to proceed with the attraction but she stood up from the chair, hand holding tightly on her beer and body tensed as she took one step closer to pretty girl¡¯s table. The woman steps aside with a sigh. ¡°Nora!¡± She quickly snaps her head back to face Lily, who stood up with concern drawn on her face. Her classmate looks at Nora as well. ¡°Where are you going?!¡± Lily shouts. ¡°Um!¡± Anything else was left unsaid, Nora couldn¡¯t say nor does it mean she doesn¡¯t want to. But the situation was foreign, out of the blue. She simply points at pretty girl and garnered a strong reaction for Lily to understood instantly. ¡°Oh,¡± Lily expresses and took a swig of her alcohol. She heaves afterwards, burping right after with her face turning red. ¡°Good luck!¡± Whatever luck Nora needs wouldn¡¯t compare to the regret Lily will have with her consumption. But it wasn¡¯t like apple-flavored beers could make drunk someone right? ¡°Last time, I check that kind of beer actually has low alcohol content,¡± the woman tells Nora. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make sure she doesn¡¯t get drunk.¡± ¡°You sure?¡± Nora questions and the woman nods as a reply. ¡°I¡¯m a classmate of hers, Ann Janice Villanueva.¡± The woman extends a hand and Nora did the same, shaking their hands together as an introduction. ¡°But I like to be called Janice.¡± ¡°Now go,¡± Janice adds and points her chin back to pretty girl. ¡°Psychology students might be patient but they¡¯re quick to conclude the worst scenario if left ignored.¡± Pretty girl was definitely frowning but she tries to maintain a smile on her face. Her friends, however, glared. As Nora tiptoes her way to their table, their hatred didn¡¯t dissipate and she wonders if sitting on the other side of the table was a bad move ¨C psychologically that is. Still, Nora persists and introduced herself. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Nora.¡± - There was a lot of kissing. Tongue came in as a surprise and Nora almost jumps out of the bed from the shock. Selene, pretty girl, wasn¡¯t surprise by her reaction. If anything, it only drives to coach Nora on how to kiss. So, the intimacy has been running smoothly. At least, that¡¯s how Nora sees it. She never went far with a fling she had in high school and hand holding was all she could boast about when recalling the summer to Lily years ago. Selene¡¯s touch was far from the naivety Nora engaged. Her fingers slither under her shirt and drag her nails down to unclasped Nora¡¯s bra with ease. Her legs wrap around Nora¡¯s, restricting any movement that wasn¡¯t to her liking. Nora moans, loudly, and hears a chuckle from Selene from above. But as she looks up, there wasn¡¯t much to see. The room was mostly dark and the light was illuminating dimly through the night light Selene had plugged into a socket near the bed. It hides their faces because that¡¯s what she likes. Nora struggles to find the pleasure behind the anonymity the darkness provides, sadly. Nonetheless, the complaint was left unsaid. And she moans throughout the night. Chapter 4 The night was covered in pleasure, filling her up with the ecstasy she had dream for so long. Porn and the erotica stories pales in comparison to the real, physical, thing. And Nora was unsure if she could go on with another chapter of her favorite book when she experienced the adventures written on the pages. The afterglow was also a bonus as she basked in Selene¡¯s warmth. Feeling pretty girl¡¯s breathing on the nape of her neck as her arms were wrapped around Nora¡¯s body, occasionally tightening her grip whenever Nora tries to move away. This is it; Nora thinks throughout the night. Unfortunately, the morning sours her perspective of the evening. Nora woke up alone, with only the blanket covering the lower half of her body. Selene was nowhere to be found, unfortunately, despite being her boarding house they spend the night in. Humiliation ramps up as pretty girl¡¯s roommate enters the room with a note in hand and continues doing her task with the mutters of annoyance concerning ¡®one of Selene¡¯s playthings becoming cozy in their place, unlike the agreement they planned before¡¯. Nora did apologize. Multiple times. But nothing could stop the judgement she receives from the roommate. Even with leaving the place, Nora just feels dirty. As if the people in the street have also looked at her with the same idea in mind. She reads the note when she walks back to her boarding house and crumbles it afterward with lips thinned and anger thundering her footsteps on the staircase. The note was thrown in the trash bin as Nora enters her room. Since then, Selene didn¡¯t contact her. There wasn¡¯t any reason for her to do so and the hate residing Nora¡¯s heart forms to a bitter understanding. Nora hadn¡¯t communicated her dreams of a relationship and Selene likely assumes that the sex was nothing more than just that ¨C a one night stand. But damn, it was good though. ¡°Do you want to go there again?¡± Lily suggests as they entered the food court. ¡°Uh, I don¡¯t think so,¡± Nora declines, ¡°I don¡¯t think I should show my face there until a month has passed.¡± Who knows if they¡¯ll meet again, Nora dreads on the possibility. ¡°Okay but we can always try another place and hope for the best,¡± Lily reassures Nora with a smile and it was enough to withhold the pessimism brewing in her head. ¡°Yeah!¡± Nora grins. Food was in their minds and the two were willing to squeeze into a crowd to reach the stall they like. Buying their meals was the easiest part, finding a table for them to seat was nearly impossible with how much people took up the building. It was no wonder that food court has a second floor. Nora looks around, occasionally glancing to Lily whenever she feels like her friend deviate from her space. She was also holding their trays and she didn¡¯t mind the exercise if it meant the risk of staining Lily¡¯s uniform was near to none. She finally sees a table with vacant two seats and Nora grabs Lily by the wrist. ¡°Come on,¡± she says to her friend who followed her from behind. They were too late, unfortunately. Nora even walked fast, while accommodating to the short-inch heels Lily was wearing and grits her teeth as two people have sat down on the table. Nora curses, muffling her voice with the noise bouncing around the place and sighs to Lily. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re going out to eat then,¡± Nora tells Lily, hiding her disappointment with a smile. But nothing could get past her friend, Lily seems more enlightened by the news. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s okay!¡± Lily replies, ¡°I think it¡¯s better eating outside anyways. I don¡¯t think I can stand being looked at by someone waiting for their turn with our table.¡± Nora snorts. Lily chuckles, intertwining their fingers together. ¡°I tend to drive them away though,¡± Nora recalls. ¡°It¡¯s better to not engage in unnecessary fights,¡± Lily tells her. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to pick a fight.¡± ¡°People will think otherwise, unfortunately.¡± It was true. Although, Nora can¡¯t deny she can a bit¡­ too strong with her words. Someone bumps on her shoulder and Nora snaps her head to face the man on the side. They looked at each other, silencing embracing the moment and she hears him click his tongue. His brows furrowed, eyes narrowed at her form and Nora react the same. ¡°Dude, be careful,¡± Nora warns. ¡°You should look where you¡¯re going too, man,¡± the man reciprocates. ¡°Sorry,¡± she apologizes, guilty. ¡°Same,¡± the man replies back with a shrug. The farewell was a bit awkward but it was better than force a friendly camaraderie from the incident alone. Nora moves away, sending a nod as a last message before she looks at Lily, who holds her hand tightly. Concern drawn all over her face, breaking distance between them and faces Nora, and said, ¡°It¡¯s a good thing he¡¯s friendly.¡± ¡°Please have more faith in me, Lily,¡± Nora says with a pout. ¡°I do but I still don¡¯t want to see you getting hurt.¡± Lily¡¯s fingers went loose but hasn¡¯t let go from Nora. Nora didn¡¯t want to come out of the food court empty-handed as well. They finally reached the exit of the building and Nora dreads on the heat they¡¯ll face at the park nearby. Summer never leaves at all. ¡°Hey!¡± She hears a voice, familiar but not. ¡°Hey!¡± Nora glances to the side, from left to right. Then, there she is ¨C Janice. Sitting down on a table crowded by bags and folders from other occupants. She looks annoyed, hair tied in a bun with her lunchbox placed on front of her. ¡°It¡¯s Janice,¡± Lily points out the obvious but Nora didn¡¯t have the heart to say she already knows her. Lily guides them to the table, eager to meet a classmate of hers from a sea of strangers. ¡°You two can sit if you want,¡± Janice offers the bench she sits on. ¡°I don¡¯t know the other people here but I think they¡¯re kind enough to accommodate new people.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a lifesaver,¡± Nora compliments, grinning as her feet can relax after minutes of walking. Her back slouched and head aching from the lessons she had to process and gather. Leniency was all but a name, unfortunately. The quantity of shit to do within the timeframe of her classes were far too time consuming that oftentimes becomes a homework or a task to be done on the next schedule. ¡°You¡¯re not wearing your uniform?¡± Lily says to Janice who looks down on her casual clothes. Her sleeveless shirt and black jeans were a contrast to the white pencil skirt and collared shirt with the blue outlines of Lily¡¯s. ¡°I ended up forgetting that our department has a strict policy on uniforms,¡± Janice explains. Lily frowns. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing your place is close to the school¡¯s exit so you can change.¡± Janice sighs, scrunching her nose at the idea. Nora chuckles at the sight. It¡¯s a cute expression, she thinks. ¡°I¡¯m lazy,¡± she whines and places her chin on the palm of her hand. Janice looks at them from the corner of her eye, smirking. ¡°Accompany me?¡± Lily hesitates. So, Nora steps in. ¡°Uh, Lily has a class after lunch,¡± Nora excuses and observes a huff from Lily¡¯s classmate. A pout was accentuated, noting the subtle red gloss painting Janice¡¯s lips. The thick lashes weren¡¯t ignored either and the gray-ish eyeshadow have kept Nora glancing to decipher its true shade. ¡°I can, uh, accompany you if you want,¡± Nora blurts out ¨C an unexpected decision that left her blushing, heart racing and the stutters for a reason was laughed at by the recipient. Lily would¡¯ve laugh at her antics but she didn¡¯t. Chapter 5 Nora didn¡¯t expect to follow through her idea. The pathway was bumpy, littered by rocks in various sizes and, sadly, her shoes have thin soles from overused. The pain can be endured enough for the travel but the silence between her and Janice wasn¡¯t. Like a bomb waiting to be explode, Nora¡¯s mouth just can¡¯t be restrained anymore. ¡°So,¡± she begins and bits her tongue at the hum she hears. A sound of disinterest that topples her confidence. Nevertheless, she persists. ¡°How¡¯s school?¡± ¡°You sound like my dad,¡± Janice compares and Nora just accepts it. If ever reincarnation exists, then her next life would expectedly be a middle-aged man that fart in his sleep and make awkward conversations with his daughter. Nora sighs. ¡°Not the first time I heard about that.¡± ¡°I know.¡± The answer caught her by surprised. ¡°Lily talks about you a lot.¡± Then, it wasn¡¯t. Nora chuckles, nervous in the discussion Lily was willing to say to other people about her. It flatters her, resurfacing the confidence came back tenfold and she grins at the thought. ¡°Good things, I hope!¡± Nora exclaims. Janice shrugs, however. ¡°Yeah, you could say it like that.¡± She smirks at Nora, leading the way to a commercial building with a gate on the side. They entered, hearing the creaks from the rusted metal and looking at the dried paints of the gate. The staircase leading upstairs have better material and Nora holds onto the handrail with firm grip. Good things are good unless seen otherwise and Nora wonders what other parts of herself were exposed to the rest of the Medical Technology Department. They entered the only door present and Nora was surprised by the newly-painted walls and varnished floors. The hallway was long with bedroom doors on either side. There was a kitchen at the end with another staircase near the dining room. ¡°The bathrooms are upstairs,¡± Janice explains and unlocks a room near the kitchen. ¡°Everything¡¯s new,¡± Nora says, ¡°well, except the gate.¡± ¡°And the landlord has yet to decide to fix it.¡± Janice¡¯s bedroom was exclusively hers and the decoration displayed her full control on the space. It¡¯s the fairy lights and pastel sheets and curtain that took Nora¡¯s attention. There were also a few succulents placed on the window sill. ¡°Cool place,¡± Nora compliments, sitting down on the edge of the bed ¨C like the very tip to be specific. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Janice opens her closet, taking out the unform she hangs inside. And begins to take off her shirt. Nora shuts her eyes closed, covering her face with her hands for privacy. ¡°Um,¡± she starts, hesitant. ¡°Should I leave?¡± ¡°No, stay here,¡± Janice replies and Nora listens to the shuffles of clothes. Along with soft thud of clothes placed somewhere. She was sure Janice turns on the air conditioning of her room. ¡°You can look now,¡± Janice tells her and, slowly, Nora did what she was assured with. She wipes her hand on her jeans, eyes squinting from possible nudity and sighs as Janice has her uniform on. Discomfort still has yet to fade but it was a normal reaction. Nora stares at a picture placed on top of a desk ¨C a selfie of someone wrapping an arm around Janice. Both of them smiling, cheeks tinted with red and so was their lips. Their hairs prepped and both were wearing dresses, at least that¡¯s what Nora can conclude from the top alone. ¡°Is it really weird to have a framed picture?¡± Janice questions. ¡°People prefer polaroid these days,¡± Nora says. Janice shrugs. ¡°It¡¯s not like I was the one who made it but I appreciate the gift nonetheless.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Nora expresses. Janice stood up from the chair and plops down next to Nora. She took out her phone and shows an app before tapping it to present the account Janice has made for herself. ¡°Take out your phone,¡± she requests and Nora did without a doubt in mind. But, still, she asks, ¡°What for?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to make you digitally visible for the single ladies in the area.¡± Nora tightens her grip from the explanation and dodges Janice¡¯s hand as she tries to grab it. ¡°What if¡­¡± Nora bits her lip, worry grew from the idea. She¡¯s scared at the possibility, the what ifs that holds her in place. But she had already slept with Selene and with pretty girl¡¯s reputation seemingly well-known in some circles. Had she already been outed by someone else? ¡°I don¡¯t want people from my hometown to know about me ¨C my sexuality that is,¡± Nora explains, hiding her phone under thigh and fiddles with her thumbs. ¡°If you¡¯re worried about being outed by the person, you¡¯re sleeping with then don¡¯t be,¡± Janice reassures her, patting Nora on the shoulder. ¡°Lots of people here are in the same position as you.¡± ¡°You think so?¡± Nora questions. Silence before Janice eventually sighs to intervene the quiet. ¡°My dad thinks I¡¯ll become an old maid someday because I never shown any interest to the boys in my high school,¡± Janice confesses with a shrug. She looks annoyed, more so with a snort she presents afterwards. ¡°He never considers the girls that hangs out in my room. But I do like men, maybe not as much as women. ¡°Just enough to find them physically attractive, I guess,¡± she adds, lying down on the bed with hands spread out on the blanket. ¡°The important thing is that you¡¯re not the only one struggling to hide behind a mask of expectations. If they do out you, then they¡¯re stupid because they¡¯re outing themselves too.¡± Nora took out her phone beneath her thigh. She brightens the screen, unlocking the password she had made and scrolls through her notifications. It¡¯s a distraction, one she wasn¡¯t welcoming entirely but a relief she has for the seconds to delay the inevitable decision she¡¯s going to make. Besides, it wasn¡¯t like Janice was pushy with the idea. She received a message from Lily and Nora reads it: ¡®Take a nap after accompanying Janice, Nora?? Maybe do some homework afterwards before going back to class¡­ ¡® ¡°Lily¡­¡± Nora says her best friend¡¯s name. ¡°Yeah, she wanted me to help you,¡± Janice responds immediately.